Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfcopavio’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Sunsurfcopavio’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; dark purple violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunsurfcopavio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsurfcopavio’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and mounding Petunia cultivars with freely branching habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in April, 2003 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PF4, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number LV-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsurfcopavio’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsurfcopavio’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Dark purple violet-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact and mounding than         and not as trailing as plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more compact and mounding than         and not as upright as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘Keipabukas’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,748. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Keipabukas’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more compact and mounding than         plants of ‘Keipabukas’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had shorter internodes than plants         of ‘Keipabukas’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Keipabukas’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Keipabukas’.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia and ‘Keipabukas’         differed in color as flowers of plants of ‘Keipabukas’ had more         violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurfcopavio’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers, flower buds and leaves of ‘Sunsurfcopavio’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the spring in an outdoor nursery day temperatures averaging 23° C. and night temperatures averaging 13° C. Plants had been growing for about four months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Sunsurfcopavio’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PF4, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number LV-01, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at temperatures of             20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit.             Freely branching habit with about 20 lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 12.2 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 28.6 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 16.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 6 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 145B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 0.7 mm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with usually             about 15 open flowers per plant. Flowers face obliquely             upright.         -   Fragrance.—Moderate, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about three to             four weeks after planting. Long flowering period; flowering             commences naturally during the spring and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.9 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 4.4 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 9.5 mm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 2.3 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 3.4 cm.             Diameter: About 6.6 mm. Color: Close to 86B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 2.1 cm. Petal width: About 2 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Mucronate. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close             to 83A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 86B.             Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to N81A. Petal,             fully opened, lower surface: Close to N87A. Throat: Close to             N87B; venation, close to N92C. Tube: Close to N87A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             11.5 mm. Sepal width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Elliptic.             Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A; towards             the base, close to N77B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 1.6 cm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.9 mm by 2.3 mm. Anther             color: Close to 85C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 85B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             144B. Ovary color: Close to 143C. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Petunia. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfcopavio’ as illustrated and described. 